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Differential patterns of circulating adhesion molecules in children with bronchial asthma and acute bronchiolitis
1Department of Pediatrics, Rogaland County Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.
Insights
In young children, acute asthma shows higher soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) levels, while stable asthma has elevated soluble L-selectin (sL-selectin). Acute bronchiolitis is linked to increased soluble VCAM-1 (sVCAM-1) and sL-selectin.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Immunology
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs) play critical roles in inflammatory processes.
- Elevated CAMs are implicated in various respiratory diseases, but their specific roles in pediatric asthma and bronchiolitis require further elucidation.
- Understanding these molecular patterns can offer insights into disease pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare circulating levels of specific cellular adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, L-selectin, P-selectin) in young children diagnosed with asthma (acute and stable phases) and acute bronchiolitis.
- To identify potential differences in these molecular markers that correlate with distinct clinical presentations of pediatric obstructive airway diseases.
Main Methods:
- Serum concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin), soluble L-selectin (sL-selectin), and soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) were measured.
- Participants included young children (1-84 months) with mild/moderate asthma (acute n=15, stable n=24), acute bronchiolitis (n=22), and non-atopic controls (n=9).
- Follow-up measurements were taken for children with acute asthma after one month.
Main Results:
- Children with acute asthma exhibited significantly higher sICAM-1 levels compared to stable asthma and controls, with levels remaining elevated at follow-up.
- Stable asthmatic children showed significantly higher sL-selectin levels than controls.
- Children with acute bronchiolitis presented with increased sVCAM-1 and sL-selectin levels compared to controls. No significant differences were found for sE-selectin and sP-selectin in any group.
- CAM levels were similar between atopic and non-atopic asthmatics, and between RSV-positive and RSV-negative bronchiolitis.
Conclusions:
- Circulating cellular adhesion molecule patterns differ significantly among young children with acute asthma, stable asthma, and acute bronchiolitis.
- These distinct molecular profiles suggest variations in the underlying inflammatory mechanisms driving these pediatric respiratory conditions.
- sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and sL-selectin may serve as potential biomarkers for differentiating or characterizing these diseases in children.
Abstract:
The object of the study was to assess the levels of circulating forms of the cellular adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin, L-selectin and P-selectin in young children with asthma and acute bronchiolitis. Thirty-nine children aged 12 to 84 months with mild or moderate asthma were studied at admission for acute asthma (n = 15) or in a stable phase (n = 24). Ten of the children with acute asthma were seen again after one month. Twenty-two children aged 1 to 17 months with acute bronchiolitis and nine non-atopic controls were also included in the study. In children with acute asthma, the mean concentration of circulating soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) was increased compared to children with stable asthma (mean 442 micrograms/l versus 363 micrograms/l; p < 0.001) and to controls (363 micrograms/l; p < 0.05). The levels of sICAM-1 remained high at follow up. In children with stable asthma, the mean serum concentration of soluble L-selectin (sL-selectin) (2080 micrograms) was significantly higher than in the controls (1664 micrograms/l; p < 0.05). The levels of circulating cellular adhesion molecules were similar in atopic and non-atopic asthmatics. Children with acute bronchiolitis had increased serum levels of soluble VCAM-1 (sVCAM-1) (1637 micrograms/l versus 1019 micrograms/l in the controls; p < 0.01) and sL-selectin (2041 micrograms/l versus 1664 micrograms/l in the controls; p < 0.05). There was no difference between the levels of circulating cellular adhesion molecules in children with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) positive and RSV negative bronchiolitis. Soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) and soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) in serum were not significantly increased in any of the groups studied. In conclusion, our data suggest differential patterns of circulating cellular adhesion molecules in young children with acute asthma, stable asthma, and acute bronchiolitis, which may reflect differences in the underlying inflammatory processes in these obstructive pulmonary diseases.